SAN ANTONIO – SAWS says the Edwards Aquifer dropped four feet since Sunday, a dramatic change in water level after four days of stifling heat.
SAWS spokesperson Sarah Gatewood says it’s very common for the aquifer to fluctuate so quickly. She says the aquifer will rise very quickly with a good rainfall, but will also drop significantly after several hot, dry days.
Plus, Gatewood says June is typically a high usage month in the agricultural community.
SAWS reminds the community we are still in Stage Two water restrictions. That means once-a-week watering on designated days.
Off-duty police officers are monitoring homes to make sure everyone follows the rules.
But by the numbers, the aquifer dropped four feet in four days, so are Stage Three water restrictions next?
"Things kind of stabilize in July after a lot of the agricultural use drops off,” Gatewood says. “So if we can continue to water once per week for the next few weeks until that time, we'll hopefully be able to avoid further restrictions."
SAWS says San Antonio’s never had to declare Stage Three water restrictions, which allows watering only once every other week.
The message from SAWS is: what happens next is up to us. If we waste water, we’ll make history and enter Stage Three. If we’re smart with water, we’ll stay where we are in Stage Two.
